SBHS board adds ‘certificates of completion’ to commencement
mix
San Benito High School Board of Trustees recently passed an
ordinance that will grant alternative diplomas to students who fail
to pass the California High School Exit Examination, but still meet
all the high-school required criteria.
But is the high school, in creating an alternative diploma
actually doing graduates a disservice by making their
accomplishment less significant? According to SBHS Trustee Evelyn
Muro, the intention of the Certificate of Completion was not to
take away from the significance of a diploma, but merely to
acknowledge a different accomplishment.
SBHS board adds ‘certificates of completion’ to commencement mix
San Benito High School Board of Trustees recently passed an ordinance that will grant alternative diplomas to students who fail to pass the California High School Exit Examination, but still meet all the high-school required criteria.
But is the high school, in creating an alternative diploma actually doing graduates a disservice by making their accomplishment less significant? According to SBHS Trustee Evelyn Muro, the intention of the Certificate of Completion was not to take away from the significance of a diploma, but merely to acknowledge a different accomplishment.
Muro seemed confident that the meaning of the diploma would not be lost due to the fact that there is an alternative certificate, but said that some folks may be confused at the onset. “This certificate acknowledges that a student has passed all the required courses, despite the fact that they did not pass the exit exam. It’s not a lesser accomplishment, just a different one.”
The resolution that enacted certificates of completion was passed in October so this is the first year that the exit examination could hinder students from graduating, but this is not the first year the certificates of completion of course and credit requirements.
In the past, developmentally challenged and special needs students were offered the certificates as long as the students met the goals of their Individual Education Programs (IEPs) put together by each student’s teachers and parents.
Now, the program is being extended to everyone who completes his or her course work at the high school, but fails to pass the exit examination.
According to SBHS Superintendent Jean Burns-Slater, students are provided optimal opportunities to take and pass the exit examination. Students can take the exam up to a maximum of five times and there are mediation classes as well, so the students are adequately prepared for the test. Slater explained that people often neglect to mention this fact when they discuss the issue.
Ideally, everyone qualified to take the exit examination will be given adequate opportunity to pass the exam, but for those who are not qualified or have impending circumstances, there is an alternative.
The high school can issue certificates of completion of course and credit requirements in lieu of a diploma for students who do not pass the exit examination.
The certificates are not like the General Educational Development certificates (GEDs) issued by the state of California when a student passes an equivalency examination. GEDs are given out by the State of California if a student passes an exam covering five subject areas requiring high school knowledge. The GED doesn’t require 235 unit credits, it merely measures an individuals’ high school knowledge.
Office of Education Superintendent Tim Foley said that the certificate of completion is not a diploma, but that doesn’t mean it’s worth less than a diploma. “This is recognition by the district of the fact that the student has done the seed work and been in regular attendance. That is what is being recognized,” he said.
Burns-Slater said that she wasn’t sure what could be done with the certificate. It isn’t a diploma, but it isn’t worthless either, since it shows that a student has completed the necessary course work to qualify for exit from the school.
“I don’t know what the world will do with it, but even without a diploma a student can still go to a junior college. And the military used to require a high school diploma, but now with the exit examinations I don’t know what they’ll do.
“Good for them in accomplishing something. Just because they didn’t get a diploma doesn’t mean that they didn’t accomplish anything. These are commencement ceremonies. They’re celebrating the starting of a new life and that is exactly what these people are doing – starting a new life,” Foley said.
Charles Schallhorn, president of the SBHS Teachers’ Association explained that this was a way of fielding the problem of what happens to students who can’t pass the exit exam, but do pass all their coursework.
He said one of the questions he had with this method was how could a student have passed all their classes, but still fail the exam. It creates the dilemma of whether standardized tests accurately measure a student’s learning.
Schallhorn said that he applauded Principal Debbie efforts to distinguish between competence and compliance.
“Showing up isn’t enough. Principal Padilla is in favor of students having to prove they’ve mastered the materials. That’s trying to undo lots of attitudes.”
Schallhorn explained that it isn’t enough just to show up. “Those in the business world know, showing up isn’t enough. With many jobs out in the world, you either do well, or you fail.”
The State Department of Education does not recognize certificates of completion as anything more than a meaningless piece of paper. According to Deb Sigman, state testing director, the state’s feeling is that there is currently no alternative for students who fail the test. The district requires mediation for students who don’t pass, but beyond that, nothing.
“To reward students without the necessary skills could be quite a disservice to those students.”
